David
Garmaise of the Pattaya Friends of the PDA introduces Paul Salvette of the
Population and Development Association, to brief members on activities of
the PDA.
“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a
man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. Chinese Proverb.”
After Master of Ceremonies Roger Fox welcomed everyone to
the regular Sunday meeting of the Pattaya City Expats Club on January 2,
2011 at Amari Resort’s Tavern by the Sea, he called on fellow member David
Garmaise to introduce the guest speaker. David reminded everyone that
several members had formed the special interest group, Friends of PDA, and
raised funds to participate with the Population & Community Development
Association (PDA) formed by Mechai Viravaidya in their Village Development
Partnership program. He then introduced Paul Salvette, personal assistant to
Mechai, to bring everyone up to date on the latest works of the PDA. Paul
joined the PDA in June 2009 after serving on active duty as a US Naval
Officer.
Paul
describes progress at the Pattaya Friends of the PDA’s sponsored village,
Ban Kok Klang Noi, as well as the effects of the flooding of late last year.
Paul began by noting that the final report on the village
the Friends of PDA partnered with, Baan Kok Klang Noi, Buriram Province,
showed the village is doing very well and can be expected to continue on
without the need for additional assistance from their “partners.” Paul said
that the effort was so successful, that the PDA uses the village as a
showcase on what the Village Development Partnership (VDP) program can
accomplish.
Paul then highlighted the primary areas that the PDA
carry out, which cover health, philanthropy, education, and poverty
eradication. He mentioned that in 1974, Mechai through the PDA worked to
promote contraception in Thailand to reduce the high birthrate and not long
thereafter to protect Thais from the HIV/AIDS virus. Subsequently, the PDA
branched out. They built a school in Buriram Province to promote education
by teaching students to think, analyze, and create instead of just parroting
information learned by rote. Initially they established a primary school and
are now developing a secondary school on the same principals. The children
are selected using a lottery system, which allows everyone an even chance of
being accepted rather than having people of influence gain preferential
treatment for their own children. Paul showed several pictures of the
secondary school’s campus, which is still under construction using mostly
bamboo wood that should allow the structures to exist for about 80 years.
Member
Richard Silverberg presents the website of the week, ‘enjoythaimovies’ which
provides extensive information for fans of Thai cinema.
Paul pointed out that the school uses mostly the Internet
rather than written texts in its curriculum. Also, the students are involved
in many aspects of the school’s operation and are taught to give back to the
community. For example, he said that each student must give an hour of
community service for each lunch they receive. Further, after normal school
hours, the buildings and facilities are available for community activities
and meetings. Also, in the area of education, the PDA is in process of
developing a Teacher Training Institution whose function will be to acquaint
public school teachers with the methods and techniques to allow them to go
back to their schools and teach students how to think for themselves.
As a result of the recent floods in the Northeast, Paul
said that they are working with villages in the VDP program to look for
solutions to mitigate the damage that can result from such floods. He cited
Baan Kok Klang Noi village as developing ideas in this area and their
approach to their local government officials with their ideas and
suggestions, as it will take government resources to accomplish many of
them. Paul also said one of Mechai’s latest ideas is to create a foundation
for a geographical area that can work with several communities directly like
a “super tambon.” Further, they can then bring in representatives from other
non-governmental organizations to learn how the process works so they can
use it to accomplish the similar goals.
He also said that PDA has expanded their efforts in the
VDP program into Cambodia where it has been well received by the government.
He pointed out that because of culture differences and history, they must go
slower than they did in Thailand. Another activity they are working on is
philanthropy - getting business people and others to donate funds so that
the goal of eradicating poverty can be achieved. For those desiring more
information, he provided the PDA’s website, which is www.pda.or.th/eng/
After Paul answered several questions from the audience,
Roger Fox updated everyone on upcoming events and called on Judith Edmonds
to conduct the always informative and sometimes humorous Open Forum, where
questions about living in Thailand and Pattaya in particular are asked and
answered.
Lewis Underwood
On behalf of our 2010 Jesters Care for Kids Organizing
Committee, namely Graham Macdonald, Captain Steve Ponter, Deborah Philbrook,
Tony Malhotra, Kim Fletcher, David Smith, Bernie Tuppin, Linden Phanpho, Judi
MacNamara, Bill Freeman, Kevin Mitch, Jerry Stewart, John Hoffman and Karyn
Walker, we would like to wish you a very happy New Year and a huge thank you for
your magnanimous support this past year. You allowed us to raise approximately
THB 6.4 million in cash and kind for children in need of shelter, schooling
and/or special learning needs.
And once again we would like to thank all of our sponsors
from the past year, especially the major ones, such as our Diamond Sponsors:
Glencore International, Canadian Jackalope Open, The Herrod Foundation and Devil
Creek Development Project, as well as our Platinum Sponsors: MBMG Group,
Pattaya Mail, Sinto, Pattaya Sports Club, Club Nevada, Mike Koerner, David
James, Jamesons, Reg and Pat Warner, Mermaid Offshore Services, Hyolim,
Whitehouse Condotel, Pattaya Bay Resort, Lolita’s Pattaya, Gulf Agency Company,
World of Wines and Independence Week 2010 hosted by Richman, Poorman, Viking
Beachcomber and Steve Gray.
Over 80% of the money raised last year has been distributed
so far, and as we continue to distribute your donations to various children’s
charities in the region, we have already initiated our fund-raising for Jesters
Care for Kids Charity Drive 2011 and we hope you will join us again.
Over the last 13 years you have assisted nearly 40 different
organizations benefitting deprived children, many of which we continue to help
today. Some of our more recently completed projects are:
* Kate’s Project, Kharma Foundation and Fountain of Life
Center - Provided funding for Christmas presents and fetes for kids at these
projects.
* Ban Amphur School - Constructed new kindergarten and
renovated pre-existing toilets.
Some of our core beneficiaries that we continue to support
are:
* Fountain of Life Center for Children - In North Pattaya, we
cover the majority of operational costs for this center which provides
identities, medical/dental care, meals, day care, and education, ultimately
giving scholarships to enter schools.
* Pattaya Redemptorist School for the Blind - In Naklua, we
provide building renovations, educational aids and sports equipment for blind
children and young adults.
* Camillian Center - In Rayong and Lat Krabang, we continue
to sponsor disabled children living with HIV.
* Ban Jing Jai Orphanage - In Nong Prue, we provide monthly
food/utilities costs for 65 orphans.
* Next Step Program - In Krabi, we continue scholarship for
15-year-old tsunami survivor, Eckalot.
If you would like to join us in 2011, please refer to the
sponsorship levels and benefits on the chart on this page.
Please send your donations to: the Good Shepherd Foundation,
c/o The Fountain of Life Center, 3/199 M.6 Soi Chalermprakiet 3, Pattaya 3rd
Road, Naklua, Banglamung, Chonburi 20150, Thailand, or transfer funds directly
to their account at: Bangkok Bank, Muang Pattaya Branch, Chonburi 20260, Acct#
484-0-68306-6. Swiftcode: BKKBTBK and fax the payment slip to 038 362010.
Official invoices and tax receipts will be provided for all
contributions.
Alternatively, you may wish to use our Online Donation
Facility (PayPal and Thaiepay).
Please remember that our main events this year are: Jesters
Children’s Fair, Sunday, September 11th and our Jesters Party Night, Saturday,
September 17th.
For more information about us, please visit our web site at
www.care4kids.info or email us at [email protected].
During
the announcement, performers give the press, members of the Pattaya Cultural
Council and the Lions a sample of what to expect at the upcoming show.
Pratchaya Kerdthong
More than 100 actors and musicians will take to the stage
Jan. 15 for a Thai Cultural Show organized by the Lions Club of
Pattaya-Pratamnak and the Pattaya Cultural Council.
The noon show at the Tiffany Theater will showcase
experienced performers from the National Fine Arts Department with proceeds
going toward Lions’ charity efforts including its Thai encyclopedia
distribution, drinking water, scholarship and cataract operations projects.
Lions chapter President Rungthip Suksrikarn and cultural
council head Naowarat Khakai said the show also aims to bolster appreciation
of Thai performing arts, including plays, folks songs and victory drum
performances.
Tickets are available for 500-2,000 baht at the Ruan Thai Restaurant or
Sunbeam Hotel. For more information, call 038-425-911.
